Adjustable window-washing platform



July 16, 19 2 9. H. T DUKET' 1.721,!79

ADJUSTABLE WINDOW WASHING PLATFORM Filed Sept. 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 16, 1929. H. T. DUKET 7 L 79 ADJUSTABLE wINDow WASHING PLATFORM Filed Sept. 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July. 15, 1929.

HENRY 'JI. DUKE'I, OF TOLEDO, OHIO. I

ADJUSTABLE WINDOW-WASHIN G PLATFORM.

Application filed September 9, 1927. Serial No. 218,379.

ward from the building to enable anyone to sit or stand on the platform and perform any operation on the exterior of the building and in and about the window. The invention also provides a clamping means that is so constructed that it will not mar the interior sill construction and yet will rigidly hold the platform in position. The invention also has for its object other advantages and features which will appear in' the following description and upon examination of the drawings that form a part hereof.

The invention maybe contained in structures of different forms, and to illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a structure containing the invention as an example of such structures and shall describe it hereinafter. The structure selected is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a side View of the window platform, the structure selected as an example of embodiments of the invention. Fig. '2 illustrates a top view of the plat-form shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 33 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom View of the platform. Fig. 5 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 55 indicated in Fig.4. Fig. 6 is a view of one of the outside sill clamps used for securing the platform to the sill of the window. Fig. 7 is an edge View of the clamp shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view of one of the inside sill engaging clamps. Fig. 9 is an edge view of the clamp shown in Fig. 8.

In the structure shown in the drawings, a means is provided for adj ustably securing the platform to the window sill and at the same time'adapting it to the various sill structures that may be used in different buildings. Thus the platform shown in the drawing is quite universal in its character and may be secured to sills which, in their details, vary in form. The platform 1 is provided with a movable clamping frame 2, which is operated by a screw 3 to vary its position with reference to clamps 4 that are secured to the body of the platform 1. The body of the platform 1 is formed, preferably, of a pair of boards 5 that are bonded and secured together by an edge or bonding strip 6. The inner edges of the boards 5 are spaced apart and the screw 3 is located intermediate the edges. The screw 3 is connected to a crank 7 located on the inside end of the platform, with reference to the sill structure, in connection with which the platform may be used. The bar on which; the screw 3 is formed extends through the bonding strip 6 at opposite ends of the body of the platform, and these portions constitute bearings for rotatablysupporting the screw 3 and the crank 7. The frame 2 has the 7 cross bar 10 that extends across the under side of the body of the platform and a brace member 11. A pair of tapped blocks 12 and 13 are secured, respectively, to the cross bar 10 and. the brace member 11. The screw?) extends through the-blocks 12-and13. When the crank 7 is rotated, the frame 2 will be moved along the body portion of the plat-' form 1. r a

The ends of the cross bar 10 are provided with outside sill clamping members 14 that protrude downward with respect to the platform when in position on the sill, and are located so as to oppose the clamping members 4 which also extend downwardwith respect to the platform, and are located at the corners of the platform. Theclamps 14 have substantially plain clamping surfaces 15 that are pressed against the outside vertical surface of the sill part of the building, andplatform supporting surfaces 16 that rest on the horizontal surface of the sill construction when the platform is placed in position. clamps 4 are provided with downwardly and The outwardly curved portions 17 that operate to engage the under side of the'ledge of the ordinary sill. When, therefore, the screw 3 is operated so as to cause the sill to be clamped between the clamps 4 and 14, thesurfaces .16 of the clamps 14 will rest on the edge of the outside part'of the sill, while the surfaces 15 will'be pressed against the vertical surfaces of the outside part of thesilland thecurved portions 17 of the clamps 4, will be hooked under the ledgeofthe inside. part ofthe sill. In order to prevent marring of the inside portion of the sill, flexible leatherstrips 20 may be connected at their ends to the clamps 4 to provide for free movement between the surfaces of the flexible strips 20 and the clamps 4, and to avoid rubbing of the surfaces of the flexible strips 20 on the decorative surface of the interior portions of the sill. Also, to

protect the upper side of the interior part of the sill structure, leather strips or cushions 21 may be located at the corners on the under side of the inner end of the body of the platform.

The frame 2 has a pair of slidable bars 25 that are connected to the clamps 14 by means of the bolts 26. The bolts 26 not only pass through the clamps 14, but also through the ends of the bar 10 that is turned upward and over the strip 6 and downward so as to engage the edges of the strip 6,'and form a guide for the ends of the bar 10, and for the frame 2, as shown in Fig. 3. The bars 25 also extend through brackets 27 that are secured to the strip 6. The brackets 27 operate to guide the bars 25 as they are moved longitudinally when the crank 7 is rotated. to move the frame 2. A pair of bars 28 extend diagonally from the outer ends of the bars 25 to the lower ends of the clamps l4 and well below the bolts 26 which pivotally connect the clamps 14 to the ends of the cross bar 10. Then, therefore, a load or weight is placed on the outer end of the body of the platform 1, the diagonally disposed bars 28 operate to increase the pressure of the clamps 14 against the window sill, since the clamps 14 pivot on the bolts 26. Thus any fleXure of the body portion of the platform 1, that is caused by the loa d placed on the platform, will increase the pressure of the clamping means used for securing the platform in position. Owing to the fact that the clamps 14 are pivotally connected by the bolts 26 that extend through the clamps 14, the relative angular location of the clamping member 14 to the platform 1 may be varied by changing the position of the bolts 26 in the bars 25. For this purpose the bars 25 may be provided with a plurality of holes 30 for adjusting the location-of the clamps, and,

consequently, the cross bar 10,'relativeto the Y side bars 25, which will, owing to the connection with the bars 28, between the ends of the bars 25 and the lower ends of the clamps 14, vary the angular relation of the engaging surfaces of the clamps 14 to the platform 1, thus the platform 1 may be held in substantially a horizontal position, Also, to provide for sills of different thickness or different slopes, the clamping members 14 are provided with a plurality of holes in which the bolts 26 may be inserted.

If desired, a suitable back may be hingedly connected to the outer end of the platform. In the form of construction shown, the back 35 is connected to the outer ends of the side bars 25. A pair of links 36 interconnect the back 35 with the bars 28 and clampingscrews and stirrups 37 may be located on the bars 28 for securing the back 35 in the desired angular relation with respect to the body portion of the platform 1.

I claim:

1. In a window platform, a pair of sill clamping members secured to one end of the platform, a frame having a pair of clamping members slidably connected to the platform, and a rotatable screw for operating the frame to cause the opposing clamping members of the platform to engage opposite sides of the sill of the window, the frame comprising a cross bar and side bars, guides located at the ends of the side bars for rigidly connecting the side bars with the side edges of the body part of the platform, and bars extending diagonally from the lower ends of the clamping members connected to the frame to the outer ends of the side bars.

2. In a window platform, a pair of sill clamping members secured to one end of the platform, a frame having a pair of clamping members sliclably connected to the platform, a rotatable screw for operating the frame to cause the opposing clamping members of the platform to engage opposite sides of the sill of the window, guides located at the ends of the frame for rigidly connecting the frame with the side edges of the platform, and bars extending diagonally from the lower ends of the outer pair of clamping members to the outer ends of the frame for producing an increased clamping pressure when a load is put on the frame outside of the plane of the wall of the building in which the sill is located.

3. In a window platform, a pair of S111 clamping members secured to one end of the platform, a frame having a pear of pivoted clamping members slidably connected to the platform, a rotatable screw for operating the frame to cause the opposing clamping members of the platform to engage opposlte sides of the sill of the window, guides located at the ends of the frame for rigidly .connectmg the frame with the side edges of the platform, and bars extending diagonally from the lower ends of the pair of pivoted clamping members to the outer ends of the framefor producing an increased clamping pressure when a load is put on the frame outside of the plane of the wall of the building in which the sill is located.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

HENRY T. DUKET. 

